Carpenter 11.9.09

• Monday 11/9/09

-Registered for classes

-Apparently Wednesday December 9 = Monday schedule

-No in class final exam! Yay!

-Oedipus

• Knowing ending of story at the beginning
  1. Like going to movies with someone who’s seen the movie, it’s annoying
• Why tell story if everyone knows it? What is value of text?
  1. Get own perspective
  2. Analyze stories differently
  3. Dr. Nicosia, seen Jaws 1000 times
  4. Impacts modern texts
  5. Who wants to sit at home on Friday and watch History Channel?
• Different lenses of Oedipus
  1. Oedipus as the man
     • If not to be model for behavior, what is purpose for Oedipus?
     • -Cautionary tale?
     • -Creon = bruncle (brother uncle)
     • -Avoid excess of pride
     • -Might not want riches and power (might be directed for more common people)
     • -Motives are good, good man, good King
     • -Horrible prophecy
       • -Kill his dad, marry his mom
     • -Doesn’t understand his destiny
       • -Tries to avoid his fate
       • -Runs away from home
       • -Runs right into his prophecy
     • -Oedipus means “swollen foot”
       • -Ankles pierced as a baby
       • -Oedipus has a limp
  2. Jocasta gave Oedipus away to be killed as baby
     • -Ends up loving and marrying same baby, ironic!!
     • Jocasta started prophecy for Oedipus
     • Chooses husband over child
     • Jake: Do you love me or daddy more?
       • Preparing for any future prophecies
     • Jocsata doesn’t notice mark on Oedipus as an adult
  • Role of chorus
    • -Makes pronouncements in very lyrical fashion
    • pg. 578, pg. 586, pg. 591, pg. 596, pg. 602, pg. 605, pg. 608, pg. 614
    • Analysis by chorus changes through course of poem
    • Play? Poem? Ploem?
    • Chorus is collective character, actually interacts
    • Show King that people of Thebes need his intercession
  • -100% ironic!
  • -Riddle
    • -Clever riddle
    • -Sphinx won’t leave city of Thebes until someone answers riddle
  • Was Hamlet based on this??
    • Shakespeare knew this story like back of his hand